Optical interleaver

ABSTRACT

An optical interleaver having a deflection plate disposed along an optical path between two input/output ports. The interleaver generally comprises a first birefringent element optically coupled to at least two of the input/output ports, first and second polarization rotators, a wavelength filter, and a second birefringent element. The interleaver may be configured to operate as a multiplexer, a de-multiplexer, or a router. The interleaver may further comprise a collimator that couples two or more different optical signals to one of two or more optical fibers. A preferred embodiment includes a reflector that reflector reflects an optical signal back through the elements of the interleaver in reverse order to the input/output ports. This configuration reduces the number of components required for the interleaver and allows the use of shorter birefringent elements.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/495,020 filed Jan. 31, 2000, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to optical communications systems. More particularly, it relates to an optical interleaver for multiplexing or de-multiplexing optical signals.

BACKGROUND ART

Optical wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) has gradually become the standard backbone network for fiber optic communication systems. WDM systems employ signals consisting of a number of different wavelength optical signals, known as carrier signals or channels, to transmit information on optical fibers. Each carrier signal is modulated by one or more information signals. As a result, a significant number of information signals may be transmitted over a single optical fiber using WDM technology.

WDM systems use components referred to generically as optical interleavers to combine, split, or route optical signals of different channels. Interleavers typically fall into one of three categories, multiplexers, de-multiplexers and routers. A multiplexer takes optical signals of different channels from two or more different input ports and combines them so that they may be coupled to an output port for transmission over a single optical fiber. A de-multiplexer divides an signal containing two or more different channels according to their wavelength ranges and directs each channel to a different dedicated fiber. A router works much the same way as a de-multiplexer. However a router can selectively direct each channel according to control signals to a desired coupling between an input channel and an output port.

FIG. 1 depicts a typical optical interleaver 999 of the prior art as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,694,233, issued to Wu et al. on Dec. 2, 1997, which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. A WDM signal 500 containing two different channels 501, 502 enters interleaver 999 at an input port 11. A first birefringent element 30 spatially separates WDM signal 500 into horizontal and vertically polarized components 101 and 102 by a horizontal walk-off. Component signals 101 and 102 both carry the full frequency spectrum of the WDM signal 500.

Components 101 and 102 are coupled to a polarization rotator 40. The rotator 40 selectively rotates the polarization state of either signal 101 or 102 by a predefined amount. By way of example, in FIG. 1 signal 102 is rotated by 90° so that signals 103, 104 exiting rotator 40 are both horizontally polarized when they enter a wavelength filter 61.

Wavelength filter 61 selectively rotates the polarization of wavelengths in either the first or second channel to produce filtered signals 105 and 106. For example wavelength filter 61 rotates wavelengths in the first channel 501 by 90° but does not rotate wavelengths in the second channel 502 at all.

The filtered signals 105 and 106 enter a second birefringent element 50 that vertically walks off the first channel into beams 107, 108. The second channel forms beams 109, 110.

A second wavelength filter 62 then selectively rotates the polarizations of signals 107, 108 but not signals 109, 110 thereby producing signals 111, 112, 113, 114, having polarizations that are parallel each other. A second polarization rotator 41 then rotates the polarizations of signals 111 and 113, but not 112 and 114. The resulting signals 115, 116, 117, and 118 then enter a third birefringent element 70. Note that second wavelength filter 62 may alternatively be replaced by a polarization rotator 41 suitably configured to rotate the polarizations of signals 111, 113 but not 112, 114.

Third birefringent element 70 combines signals 115 and 116, into the first channel, which is coupled to output port 14. Birefringent element 70 also combines signals 117 and 118 into the second channel, which is coupled into output port 13.

As described above, interleaver 999 operates as a de-multiplexer. By operating interleaver 999 in reverse, i.e., starting with channels 501, 502 at ports 13 and 14 respectively; interleaver operates as a multiplexer. Furthermore, by suitably controlling the polarization rotation induced by rotators 40 and 41, interleaver 999 may be configured to operate as a router.

Interleaver 999 has certain drawbacks. First, each port requires its own collimator. Three collimators take up space and require a relatively large walk-off distance for the signals. Consequently, birefringent elements 30, 50 and 70 tend to be both long and wide. Second, the number of components, particularly birefringent elements, tends to make interleaver 999 bulky, expensive and more massive. Generally, the greater the mass of interleaver 999, the more unstable its operation. Third, the coupling distance, i.e., the distance between port 11 and ports 13, 14, tends to be long, which increases insertion losses in interleaver 999. Furthermore, each of the ports 11, 13 and 14 requires a separate collimator to couple the signals into and out of optical fibers. This adds the complexity and expense of interleaver 999.

There is a need, therefore, for an improved optical interleaver that overcomes the above difficulties.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a compact optical interleaver that uses fewer parts. It is a further object of the invention to provide an interleaver with a single collimator for coupling optical signals to or from two or more optical fibers.

SUMMARY

These objects and advantages are attained by an optical interleaver having a compact design that allows the use of smaller birefringent elements. The interleaver generally comprises a first birefringent element optically coupled to at least two input/output ports. A first polarization rotator is optically coupled to the first birefringent element. A second polarization rotator element is optically coupled to the first polarization rotator element. A wavelength filter is optically coupled to the second polarization rotator element, and a second birefringent element is optically coupled to the wavelength filter. The interleaver may be configured to operate as a multiplexer, a de-multiplexer, or a router.

One embodiment of the invention includes a deflection plate disposed along an optical path between the two input/output ports. The deflection plate deflects the path of one or more optical signals so that a single collimator may be used to coupled the signals into two or more fibers coupled to at least two of the input/output ports. A typical collimator configuration includes a lens optically coupled to the two or more optical fibers. In this embodiment, the deflection plate typically includes at least one wedge-shaped portion configured to deflect a first of the two or more optical signals into the lens.

An alternative embodiment of the invention includes a reflector optically coupled to the third polarization rotator. The reflector reflects an optical signal that travels from the input/output ports through the elements of the interleaver back through these elements in reverse order back to the input/output ports. This configuration reduces the number of components required for the interleaver and allows the use of shorter birefringent elements.

Further advantages of the various embodiments of the invention are depicted in the drawings and the detailed description that follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 depicts an isometric view of an optical interleaver according to the prior art;

FIG. 2 depicts an isometric view of an optical interleaver according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3A depicts an isometric view of an optical interleaver configured as a multiplexer according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3B depicts cross sectional schematic views of the polarization of light at different points in the optical interleaver of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4A depicts an isometric view of an optical interleaver configured as a de-multiplexer according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4B depicts cross sectional schematic views of the polarization of light at different points in the optical interleaver of FIG. 4A;

FIG. 5A depicts an embodiment of a collimator used with the embodiments of the interleaver of the present invention;

FIG. 5B depicts an alternative embodiment of the collimator of FIG. 5A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Although the following detailed description contains many specifics for the purposes of illustration, anyone of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that many variations and alterations to the following details are within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following preferred embodiment of the invention is set forth without any loss of generality to, and without imposing limitations upon, the claimed invention.

A first embodiment of the optical interleaver is shown in FIG. 2. The interleaver 100 is configured much the same way as interleaver 999 of FIG. 1 and operates in a similar fashion. However, interleaver 100 includes a deflection plate 120 disposed between birefringent element 50 and input/output ports 13 and 14. Deflection plate 120 may be located between birefrignent element 50 and wavelength filter 62, or between wavelength filter 62 and rotator 41, or between rotator 41 and birefringent element 70, or between birefringent element 70 and ports 13, 14. For the sake of example, FIG. 2 depicts deflection plate 120 as being located between birefringent element 50 and wavelength filter 62 in the path of beams 109, 110.

Examples of suitable materials for construction of birefringent elements include calcite, rutile, lithium niobate, YVO₄ based crystals, and the like.

Suitable polarization rotators include reciprocal rotators such as waveplates and non-reciprocal rotators such as magneto-optic based Faraday rotators.

In an alternative embodiment depicted in the inset of FIG. 2, a wedge shaped deflection plate 122 combined with a dual fiber collimator 124 couples two different beams 130 and 132 to two different fibers 140, 142 coupled to ports 13 and 14. Initially beams 130 and 132 are parallel to each other. Beam 130 is enters collimator 124 at normal incidence. Consequently, the path of beam 130 travels substantially undeflected to optical fiber 140. Wedge 122 deflects beam 132 into collimator 124. Collimator 124 generally comprises a lens 126 and a capillary 128, which holds fibers 140, 142. Capillary 128 usually has a front surface 129 that is polished at an angle α with respect to a plane perpendicular to beam 130. Angle α is typically between 8 and 10°. This configuration reduces the amount of light from beams 130, 132 reflected back into fibers 140, 142.

Lens 126 is typically a graded refractive index (GRIN) lens. Beam 132 strikes lens 126 at an angle. As a result, beam 132 follows a curved path 127 that brings beam 132 parallel to beam 130 at fiber 142. The advantage of this particular configuration is that only one collimator 124 is used and fibers 140 and 142 may be located close to each other, thereby saving space. Furthermore beams 107, 108, 109, and 110 can be closer together. Therefore, birefringent element 50 can be smaller further reducing the cost, bulk, and mass of interleaver 100.

FIG. 3 depicts an embodiment of an optical interleaver 200 that uses even fewer components than interleaver 100 does. Interleaver 200 generally comprises three input/output ports 211, 213, and 214, first and second birefringent elements 230, 250, a compensation plate 220, a wavelength filter 262, polarization rotators 240, 244, 246 and a reflector 280.

Input/output ports 211, 213, and 214 are optically coupled to first birefringent element 230. Each of ports 211, 213, and 214 may be used for either input or output of optical signals depending on the desired application of interleaver 200. The distinction between input and output in the context of the present description is that an input couples light into interleaver 200 and an output couples light out of interleaver 200. Preferably, all three ports are located adjacent to each other on the same side of birefringent element 230, i.e., on the same side of interleaver 200. This configuration saves space and simplifies the design and construction of interleaver 200.

To understand the operation of interleaver 200 as a multiplexer, it is best to refer to FIGS. 3A and 3B simultaneously. Each of cross sections A through N depicted in FIG. 3B shows a view looking input/output ports 211, 213, 214 at different points in interleaver 200. In the following discussion ports 211 and 214 are inputs and port 213 is an output. Signals 501 and 502 enter interleaver 200 at ports 211, 214 as shown at A in FIG. 3B. Each of signals 501 and 502 carries a channel distinguished by a characteristic wavelength range. First birefringent element 230 spatially separates signals 501 into two polarized components 201, 203, and signal 502 into two polarized components 203 and 204 by a horizontal walk-off effect as shown at B in FIG. 3B.

Ordinary components 201 and 202 pass through compensation plate 220 while extraordinary components 203 and 204 do not. Compensation plate 220 thus compensates for the difference in phase resulting from the longer optical paths for the extraordinary components.

Components 201, 202, 203, and 204 are coupled to first polarization rotator 240. Rotator 240 is divided into first and second portions 241, 242 that rotate the polarization of light in opposite senses as shown at C′ in FIG. 3B. A first portion 241 of rotator 240 selectively rotates the polarization of components 201 and 202 by 45° in a counter-clockwise sense. A second portion 242 of rotator 240 rotates the polarization of components 203, and 204 by 45° in a clockwise sense so components 201, 202, 203, and 204 are all polarized parallel to each other as shown at C in FIG. 3B. Preferably both portions of rotator 240 are reciprocal rotators, such as waveplates. A reciprocal rotator rotates the polarization of light in one sense when the light travels through it in a forward direction and in an opposite sense when light travels through it in the reverse direction.

All four components 201, 202, 203, and 204 are coupled to second polarization rotator 244. Preferably, rotator 244 is a non-reciprocal rotator such as a Faraday rotator. Rotator 244 rotates the polarization of all four components 201, 202, 203, and 204 by 45° counter-clockwise so that they are all horizontal as shown at D in FIG. 3B. The four components are then optically coupled to wavelength filter 262.

Wavelength filter 262 selectively rotates the polarization of wavelengths in either the first or second channel. For example filter 262 rotates the polarization of wavelengths corresponding to signal 502 by 90°. As a result components 202 and 204 are rotated by 90° while components 201 and 203 are not. Thus, components 201 and 203 of signal 501 are horizontally polarized but components 202 and 204 of signal 502 are vertically polarized as shown at E in FIG. 3B.

All four components 201, 202, 203, and 204 are coupled to second birefringent element 250. Birefringent element 250 has an optic axis 251 configured such that vertically polarized components 202, 204 are extraordinary rays and horizontally polarized components 201, 203 are ordinary rays. Second birefringent element 250 therefore vertically walks components 202 and 204 towards components 201, 203 as shown at F in FIG. 3B.

To allow a shorter length of second birefringent element 250, components 201, 202, 203, and 204 are coupled to third rotator 246 and reflector 280. Reflector 280 reflects components 201, 202, 203, and 204 back through the optical elements of interleaver 200 in reverse order. Consequently, interleaver 200 requires only one wavelength filter and two birefringent crystals. Therefore, interleaver 200 uses fewer components, occupies less space, weighs less, and costs less to manufacture than prior interleavers. Rotator 246 is preferably a non-reciprocal rotator like rotator 244. Rotator 246 rotates the polarizations of components 201, 202, 203, and 204 by 45° clockwise as shown at G in FIG. 3B. Upon reflection by reflector 280 the polarizations of components 201, 202, 203, and 204 are configured as shown at H in FIG. 3B. For cross sections H-N, the view is now along the direction of propagation, i.e., towards left in FIG. 3A.

After reflection by reflector 280, rotator 246 again rotates components 201, 202, 203 and 204. Since rotator 246 is non-reciprocal, the components are again rotated clock-wise by 45° so that components 202, 204 are polarized horizontally and components 201, 203 are polarized vertically as shown at I in FIG. 3B. As such, components 202, 204 are ordinary rays and components 201, 203 are extraordinary rays on the return trip through birefringent element 250. Therefore, birefringent element 250 walks beams 201, 203 towards beams 202, 204. Beam 201 combines with beam 202 to form beam 205 and beam 203 combines with beam 204 to form beam 205 as shown at J in FIG. 3B.

Beams 205 and 206 then pass back through wavelength filter 262 where the horizontally polarized components corresponding to wavelengths in signal 502 are rotated by 90° such that all wavelengths in signals 205 and 206 are vertically polarized as shown at K in FIG. 3B. Signals 205 and 206 then pass back through rotator 244, which rotates their respective polarizations by 45° counter-clockwise as shown at L in FIG. 3B. Rotator 240 then rotates the polarization of signal 205 counter-clockwise and the polarization of signal 206 clockwise as shown at M in FIG. 3B. Beam 205 is therefore an extraordinary ray in birefringent element 230. Vertically polarized beam 206 is an ordinary ray in birefringent element 230. Beam 206 passes through compensation plate 220, but beam 205 does not. Compensation plate 220 compensates for a phase difference induced by the longer optical path length for extraordinary beam 206. Birefringent element 230 walks beam 205 towards 206 and combines them into output signal 503 as shown at N in FIG. 3B. Output signal 503 is then coupled to output port 213.

As described above, interleaver 200 operates as a multiplexer. By operating interleaver 200 in reverse, i.e. starting with a multiplexed signal containing two or more channels at input/output ports 213 interleaver 200 may be configured to operate as a de-multiplexer.

FIG. 4A depicts an embodiment of optical interleaver 200 configured to operate as a de-multiplexer. FIG. 4B depicts the operation of each element of interleaver 200 in this configuration. In this embodiment, port 213 serves as an input while ports 211 and 214 serve as outputs. WDM signal 500 containing channels 501′ and 502′ enters interleaver 200 at port 213 as shown at A in FIG. 4B. Channel 501′ includes a vertically polarized component 201 and a horizontally polarized component 203. Similarly channel 502′ includes a vertically polarized component 202 and a horizontally polarized component 204. First birefringent element 230 spatially separates WDM signal 500 into horizontally and vertically polarized components 508, 504 by a horizontal walk-off effect as shown at B in FIG. 4B.

Ordinary component 508 passes through compensation plate 220 while extraordinary component 504 does not. Compensation plate 220 thus compensates for the difference in phase resulting from the longer optical paths for extraordinary component 504.

Components 508, and 504 are respectively coupled to first and second portions 241, 242 of polarization rotator 240. Portions 241, 242 rotate the polarization of light in opposite senses as shown a C′ in FIG. 4B. First portion 241 of rotator 240 selectively rotates the polarization of component 508 by 45° in a counter-clockwise sense. Second portion 242 of rotator 240 rotates the polarization of component 504 by 45° in a clockwise sense so that components 508 and 504 are all polarized parallel to each other as shown at C in FIG. 4B. Both portions 241, 242 of rotator 240 are preferably reciprocal rotators as described above.

Both components 508, and 504 are coupled to non-reciprocal polarization rotator 244. Unlike the multiplexer case described above, rotator 244 rotates the polarization of both components 508, and 504 by 45° clockwise so that they are both vertical as shown at D in FIG. 4B. The two components are then optically coupled to wavelength filter 262.

Wavelength filter 262 selectively rotates the polarization of wavelengths in either the first or second channel. For example filter 262 rotates the polarization of wavelengths corresponding to signal 502′ by 90°. As a result components 202 and 204 are rotated by 90° while components 201 and 203 are not. Thus, components 201 and 203 of signal 501′ are vertically polarized but components 202 and 204 of signal 502′ are horizontally polarized as shown at E in FIG. 4B.

Components 503 and 504, i.e., components 201, 202, 203, and 204, are coupled to second birefringent element 250. Birefringent element 250 has an optic axis 251 configured such that components 201 and 203 vertically walk off from components 202, 204 as shown at F in FIG. 4B.

Components 201, 202, 203, and 204 are coupled to non-reciprocal rotator 246 and reflector 280. Rotator 246 rotates the polarizations of components 201, 202, 203, and 204 by 45° clockwise as shown at G in FIG. 4B. Reflector 280 reflects components 201, 202, 203, and 204 back through the optical elements of interleaver 200 in reverse order. Upon reflection by reflector 280 the polarizations of components 201, 202, 203, and 204 are configured as shown at H in FIG. 4B. In cross-sections H-N, the view along the direction of propagation is now towards left in FIG. 4A.

After reflection by reflector 280, components 201, 202, 203, and 204 are again rotated 45° clockwise by rotator 246 so that components 202, 204 are polarized vertically and components 201, 203 are polarized horizontally as shown at I in FIG. 4B. As such, components 201, 203 are ordinary rays and components 202, 204 are extraordinary rays on the return trip through birefringent element 250. Therefore, birefringent element 250 walks beams 202, 204 away from beams 201 203 as shown at J in FIG. 4B.

Beams 201, 202, 203 and 204 then pass back through wavelength filter 262 where the horizontally polarized components 202, 204 corresponding to wavelengths in signal 502′ are rotated by 90°. Consequently, all wavelengths in signals 201, 202, 203 and 204 are horizontally polarized as shown at K in FIG. 4B. Beams 201, 202, 203 and 204 then pass back through rotator 244, which rotates their respective polarizations by 45° clockwise as shown a L in FIG. 4B. Rotator 240 then rotates the polarizations of beams 201, 202 counter-clockwise and the polarizations of beams 203, 204 clockwise as shown at M in FIG. 4B. Beams 201, 202 are therefore extraordinary rays in birefringent element 230 while beams 203, 204 are ordinary rays. Therefore, birefringent element 230 walks beams 201, 202 towards beams 203, 204. Ordinary beams 203, 204 pass through compensation plate 220 but extraordinary beams 201, 202 do not, thereby compensating for phase differences. Beam 201 combines with beam 203 to form output signal 501 and beam 202 combines with beam 204 to form output beam 502 as shown at N in FIG. 4B. Output signals 501′, 502′ are then coupled to output port 211, 214 respectively.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that interleaver 200 may operate as both a multiplexer or demultiplexer whether or not the sense of rotation of rotator 244 is reversed. This may be accomplished, for example, by reversing the direction of the magnetic field if rotator 244 is a Faraday rotator. Those skilled in the art will also recognize that, by suitably controlling the polarization rotation induced by rotators 240 and 244, interleaver 200 may be configured to operate as a router.

In alternative embodiments depicted in FIGS. 5A and 5B input/output ports 211, 213 and 214 can be combined with a wedge shaped deflection plate 320 and a triple fiber collimator 324 to couple three different beams 331, 332, and 333 to three different fibers 341, 342, and 343. Initially beams 331, 332 and 333 are parallel to each other. As depicted in FIG. 5A, deflection plate 320 includes two wedge-shaped portions 322 and a central portion 323 having parallel front and back sides. Beam 332 enters central portion 323 deflection plate 320 at normal incidence as shown in FIG. 5A. Beam 332 is, therefore, undeflected and travels substantially undeflected to optical fiber 342. Wedge shaped portions 322 deflect beams 331 and 333 into collimator 324. Alternatively, as depicted in FIG. 5B, a deflection plate 321 may include two wedge-shaped portions 322 with a central gap 325 in between. beam 332 passes undeflected through gap 325. Wedge shaped portions 322 deflect beams 331 and 333 into collimator 324. Deflection plate 320 or 321 may be made in a single piece or multiple pieces. Furthermore, deflection plate 320 or 321 may be axially symmetric about an axis defined, for example, by the path of central beam 332.

Collimator 324 generally comprises a lens 326 and a capillary 328. Lens 326 is typically a graded refractive index (GRIN) lens. Capillary 328 holds fibers 341, 342, 343. Beam 332 strikes a central portion of lens 326 at normal incidence. As a result, beam 332 proceeds undeflected to fiber 342. Beams 331 and 333 strike lens 326 at an angle. As a result, beams 331 and 333 follow curved paths 327, 329 that bring beams 331 and 333 parallel to beam 332 at fibers 341 and 343. Although FIGS. 5A and 5B depict apparatus for three beams to three fibers, the basic configuration may be readily adapted to any number of beams and fibers.

It will be clear to one skilled in the art that the above embodiment may be altered in many ways without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the deflection plate may be located anywhere along the optical path between an input and the corresponding output. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined by the following claims and their legal equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An optical interleaver comprising: a) at least three input/output ports configured to transmit optical signals; b) a first birefringent element optically coupled to at least two of the at least three input/output ports; c) a first polarization rotator optically coupled to the first birefringent element; d) a second polarization rotator element optically coupled to the first polarization rotator element; e) a wavelength filter optically coupled to the second polarization rotator element; f) a second birefringent element optically coupled to the wavelength filter; and g) a deflection plate disposed along an optical path between a first of the at least three input/output ports and a second of the at least three input/output ports.
 2. The optical interleaver of claim 1 further comprising a collimator coupled to at least two of the input/output ports, wherein the collimator is configured to couple each of two or more different optical signals to one of two or more optical fibers.
 3. The optical interleaver of claim 2 wherein the collimator comprises a lens optically coupled to the two or more optical fibers.
 4. The optical interleaver of claim 3 wherein the deflection plate includes at least one wedge-shaped portion configured to deflect at least a first of the two or more optical signals into the lens.
 5. The optical interleaver of claim 4 wherein the deflection plate includes a portion that transmits at least a second of the two or more optical signals undeflected to the lens.
 6. The optical interleaver of claim 3 wherein the lens is a GRIN lens.
 7. The optical interleaver of claim 1 wherein the deflection plate is substantially free of polarization mode dispersion.
 8. The optical interleaver of claim 1 wherein the at least three input/output ports are all disposed adjacent to each other.
 9. The optical interleaver claim 1 configured to operate as a multiplexer.
 10. The optical interleaver claim 1 configured to operate as a router. 